"There are always some unexpected things."
Vane didn't really care whether the Nanami Kingdom could be restored. From the Rocket Team's perspective, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing if it wasn't restored. That way, he could bring Perona, the user of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit, aboard the Thunder Fortress.
The Bear Guard's strength was roughly equivalent to some pirates with bounties of seven or eight million, about the same level as Alvida. Someone like that was neither particularly important nor particularly useless on his ship.
But a Fruit user like Perona was far too important. The uniqueness of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit allowed Perona to be of considerable help even at such a young age.
The ghosts she summoned could fly great distances for reconnaissance, and the Negative Ghosts themselves were quite bug-like. Even people like Zoro and Sanji, with bounties of tens of millions or even over a hundred million, would still collapse to the ground if struck by a Negative Ghost.
A Fruit user who could already be useful now would only grow tremendously stronger in the future. She was also genuinely loyal to Moria—after learning he had been captured, she even ventured deep into Blackbeard's territory to attempt a rescue.
There was no reason for Vane not to bring someone like that onto his ship and cultivate her personally.
"Let the old king explain this matter to the Bear Guard. We'll prepare to take over."
Vane quite enjoyed being this kind of "one who takes over the mess."
...
After the Marines left, the Thunder Fortress received the news and sailed from Copper Mine Island to Gold Mine Island.
Bonez was wrapped head to toe in supreme "bandages." His injuries might not have been more numerous than Dice's, but since they covered his whole body, he used so many bandages that he looked utterly miserable.
"Bonez, take a look at my new move! Lion Bullet!"
Tant ignored his own injuries and directly transformed into a Lion-Man, slashing out with his claws. He was still rather unskilled—the slash flew a short distance before immediately dissipating.
"Who told you to transform?! Half the medicine used on you just went to waste!"
Before Tant could receive any praise, the ship's doctor, Martha, smashed him hard.
Martha used to have a very good temper. But after dealing with these three guys, her temper had been getting worse day by day.
Bonez, Dice, and Tant produced new injuries every single day. The old wounds hadn't healed before new ones appeared. Every time, the externally applied medicine would get shaken off during their fights.
Once or twice was fine. But they did this every day. Martha's patience had been completely worn away. When dealing with these thick-skinned brutes, she would directly pick up her physical "holy sword"—a crowbar used for prying things—and give them a hard whack.
She didn't have much strength. Hitting them felt like scratching an itch. Hitting Dice was practically a reward for him.
Tant rubbed the spot where he'd been struck.
"It's fine! As a Fruit user, I can rely on my powerful vitality to recover on my own."
"Then don't eat either. I'll inform the cook not to leave you any food. Let's see if you can hold out."
Tant might go without medicine, but he absolutely could not go without food. His expression changed immediately.
"I'm sorry, beautiful and kind-hearted Doctor Martha. I'll definitely behave from now on. Please don't tell the cook."
The playful, bickering atmosphere was lively—clearly different from how ordinary civilians viewed pirates. The Bear Guard watched all of this in silence… If things didn't work out, perhaps this would be a very good environment where Perona could stay at ease.
Gold Mine Island was already in sight.
With the old king's orders, the Thunder Fortress docked steadily in an independent shipyard for maintenance.
Leaving some people behind to guard the ship, the others went ashore to enjoy themselves.
The king provided the highest level of hospitality—food, baths, massages, a full-service treatment—truly a land of gentle pleasures.
Most of the crew wore expressions of blissful enjoyment. Only the Bear Guard seemed somewhat gloomy. He had no interest in any of it.
Vane and the others, who already knew the outcome, did not take the initiative to bring up the matter.
And so a leisurely day passed.
The next day, Vane and the others received the king's invitation.
"Finally, there's going to be a result."
"Who wants to go take a look, meow?"
"Martha, bring Perona with you."
In the end, Vane, Martha, Meowth, the still-young and somewhat clueless Perona, and the main representative of the Nanami Kingdom—the Bear Guard—went together to the place where the king had invited them.
...
At the only mountain peak on Gold Mine Island stood the old king, Schmitt, and two people Vane and the others had not seen before. Judging by their attire, a man and a woman, they were likely members of the royal family of the Six-Gold Kingdom.
Only four people were waiting. For a king, such a turnout was rather small.
"Your Majesty, there's no beautiful scenery at this mountaintop, no fine wine or delicacies, and no song or dance… I assume we're here to discuss serious matters."
Vane glanced at the king. The man's attire was very… unlike a king—he wore half-body leather armor.
"Mr. Vane, regarding today's matter, I hope you will not interfere… and none of the others on our side will interfere either."
The king stepped to the center of the field with a shield and a short spear in hand.
He struck the shield once with the spear, then pointed it at the Bear Guard.
"You, the loyal knight of the Nanami Kingdom—I know why you've come."
"As a friend of your late king, I am deeply sorry. But as a king, for the sake of my people, it is absolutely impossible for me to return the land of the Nanami Kingdom."
"In the future, there will be neither the Nanami Kingdom nor the Six-Gold Kingdom. A new and powerful kingdom will be established. The old grudges will be smoothed over under the governance of this new nation."
For the common people of the Nanami Kingdom, this was the best possible resolution. Otherwise, they would only become enslaved vassals of the victorious nation.
"And our king? The trust our royal family always placed in you?!"
Although the Bear Guard had long anticipated this outcome, he would not be persuaded by a few words from the old king. This was the obsession in his heart.
"I cannot compensate for their fate at the level of a nation for my former closest friend and his family… I can only do so in a personal way."
"Duel me. Between you and me, life and death will be decided here. Our deaths will not extend to the next generation. Those two are my heirs. Schmitt will be their teacher. Today may very well be the last lesson I give them."
"As a king, one cannot easily abandon the interests of the nation. As a friend, one must also take responsibility for the wrongdoing one has tacitly accepted."
The old king was, at most, a relatively strong soldier. The Bear Guard, however, was capable of serving as an elite unit. If they truly fought seriously, the old king would undoubtedly die.
So the old king was offering his own life to allow the Bear Guard to vent his fury—while also honoring the king who had already passed away.
"He's not a hypocrite… He truly dares to offer up his life."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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